10 Low Calorie Recipes

Meal options are half the battle when it comes to reading your weight loss goals. If you don’t have enough variety on your menu, boredom will set in before you know it.

Although I’m not a big fan calorie counting, making low calorie choices can definitely have a big impact on your weight loss success. The problem with eating too many calories is that you need to burn them off, otherwise they’ll be stored as fat. For more information on how to do it right, read my article on Calorie Intake to Lose Weight here. My best recommendation? Eat healthy, watch calorie content and portion sizes, and fit in some regular exercise!

Now, let’s take a look at 10 easy and quick low calorie recipes to keep you on track! All of these recipes are under 500 calories each.

10 Easy and Quick Low Calorie Recipes

1. Black Bean Breakfast Burrito

• 1 egg and 2 egg whites
• ¼ cup of canned black beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 tablespoon of salsa
• 2 tablespoons of low fat cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 whole wheat tortilla

2. Heart Healthy BLT

• 2 slices of whole grain bread.
• 4 slices of turkey bacon
• 2 tomato slices
• 2-3 leaves of lettuce
• 1 tablespoon of light mayo

Directions: Cook turkey bacon in the microwave. Toast bread and spread on mayo. Add remaining topics and serve with a side of pickles or carrots.

3. Quick Pesto Chicken

• 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 2 ounces of chopped cooked boneless/skinless chicken breast
• 2 tablespoon of pine nuts, chopped
• ¼ cup of basil, chopped

Directions: Sauté garlic and chicken in olive oil for 5 minutes. Add pine nuts and cook for another 5 minutes. Serve with pasta of choice.

4. Turkey and Avocado Wrap

• 1 whole wheat tortilla
• 2 ounces of cooked turkey breast
• 1 cup of spinach
• ½ of an avocado

Directions: Wrap turkey, avocado, and spinach in wrap. Serve with a side salad or some fruit.

5. Lemon Butter Pasta with Cauliflower

• 2 ounces of penne, boiled to desired consistency
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil
• 2 cups of cauliflower, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 and ½ tablespoons margarine
• Juice and Zest from 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Sautee cauliflower and garlic in olive oil until just tender. Stir in butter and lemon zest/juice, and toss mixture with pasta. Top with chicken if desired.

6. Broccoli and Cheese Omelet

• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil
• ½ cup of broccoli, chopped
• ¼ cup of crumbled feta cheese

Directions: Add olive oil to a medium-heat pan, scramble eggs and add broccoli and cheese to make an omelet.

7. Maple Lime Salmon

• Salmon filet (about 4 ounces)
• 1 tablespoon of maple syrup
• Juice from 1 lime

Directions: Combine maple syrup and lime juice and coat salmon filet with mixture. Place salmon on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and broil for 8-12 minutes.

8. Easy Pita Pizza

• 1 whole wheat pita
• ¼ cup of pasta or pizza sauce
• ¼ cup of chopped cooked chicken breast
• ½ cup of fresh baby spinach
• 1/3 cup of low-fat mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions: Top pita with sauce, chicken, spinach, and cheese. Broil for 5 to 7 minutes. Substitute with healthy topics of choice.

9. Almond and Cranberry Salad

• 2 to 3 cups of organic spring mix salad
• 1/3 cup of crumbled feta cheese
• ¼ cup of chopped almonds
• 2 tablespoons of dried cranberries
• 2 tablespoons of light balsamic vinaigrette

Directions: Toss salad with vinaigrette and add remaining ingredients. Serve with grilled chicken breast for extra protein.

10. Zucchini Quesadillas

• 1 cup of zucchini, chopped
• 1/2 cup of canned black beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 whole-wheat tortillas
• 2 tablespoons of salsa or fat free sour cream

Directions: In a pan, sauté zucchini and black beans in olive oil for about 3 to 5 minutes. Top each tortilla with half of the zucchini, beans, and cheese. Fold tortillas in half and cook in frying pan until toasted. Top with salsa or fat-free sour cream.

Go Low Calorie with Your Snacks Too…

Looking for some healthy, fat-busting snacks? Check out my article on Low Calorie Snacks for weight loss here!